Overview
More than just a model picker, auto model selection is an intelligent system delivering high quality results, better reliability, and one less decision to make as the model landscape rapidly evolves.
Auto with task optimization
Note
Auto model selection with task optimization is generally available in Copilot Chat in VS Code.
Auto model selection with task optimization combines two systems to provide high quality results and better reliability. One system tracks real-time system health and availability, while the other evaluates task complexity. Putting these together, auto model selection routes the task to the optimal model.
Routing occurs along natural cache boundaries to avoid additional cache related costs. Switching models mid-session has shown increased cost without ample improvements in quality. This helps you get more value from Copilot since it matches each task to the model that can solve it most efficiently. That means reserving higher-cost reasoning models for problems that truly need it, while routing straightforward tasks to faster, lower-cost models that still deliver great results.
Benefits of using auto model selection include:
- Matching each task to the model that can solve it most efficiently.
- Model choice based on real-time system health and availability.
- Language invariance: Routing decisions depend on what you are trying to do, not what language you're asking in.
- Improved cost efficiency due to intelligent task routing.
Auto optimized for model reliability and availability
Experience less rate limiting by letting auto model selection choose the best available model on your behalf.
Auto model selection, optimized for model reliability and availability, intelligently chooses models based on real-time system health and model performance. You benefit from:
- Reduced rate limiting
- Lower latency and errors
Policies and availability
When you select Auto, auto model selection chooses from supported models, subject to your policies and subscription type. Available models may change over time. See Supported AI models in GitHub Copilot.
Auto model selection won't include these models:
- Models not available in your plan.
- Models excluded by administrator policies. See Configuring access to AI models in GitHub Copilot.
- Models excluded by policies restricting Copilot to data-resident or FedRAMP-compliant models.
- Models with premium request multipliers greater than one.
Multiplier discounts
If you are on a paid Copilot plan and use auto model selection in Copilot Chat, Copilot CLI, or Copilot cloud agent, models qualify for a 10% multiplier discount. See Requests in GitHub Copilot.
Auto model selection in Copilot
Auto model selection, optimized for model reliability and availability, is available in these Copilot products:
- Copilot Chat
- Copilot CLI
- Copilot cloud agent
Tip
You can see which model was used for each Copilot response.
- In Copilot Chat, hover over the response.
- In Copilot CLI, the model used for each response displays in the terminal.
- In Copilot cloud agent, the model used for each response displays at the end of the response.
Copilot Chat in IDEs
Auto model selection, with task optimization, is generally available in the following IDEs:
- VS Code
Auto model selection, optimized for model reliability and availability, is generally available in the following IDEs:
- JetBrains IDEs
- Eclipse
- Xcode
Auto model selection, optimized for model reliability and availability, is in public preview in the following IDEs:
- Visual Studio
Enabling access during public preview
During the public preview, if you're using a Copilot Business or Copilot Enterprise plan, the organization or enterprise that provides your plan must have the Editor preview features policy enabled. See Managing policies and features for GitHub Copilot in your organization or Managing policies and features for GitHub Copilot in your enterprise.
Auto model selection in third-party agents
When you select Auto in the OpenAI Codex or Anthropic Claude coding agents, Auto model selection chooses from the supported list of models, subject to your policies and subscription type.
OpenAI Codex supported models
These models are available for Auto model selection in the OpenAI Codex coding agent.
- GPT-5.2-Codex
- GPT-5.3-Codex
- GPT-5.4
- GPT-5.4 nano
For more information, see OpenAI Codex.
Anthropic Claude supported models
These models are available for Auto model selection in the Anthropic Claude coding agent.
- Claude Opus 4.5
- Claude Opus 4.6
- Claude Opus 4.7
- Claude Sonnet 4.5
- Claude Sonnet 4.6
For more information, see Anthropic Claude.